Texting vs. Email in the Workplace (2024)

Texting vs Email in the Workplace

When it comes to email and messaging in the workplace, the most important thing is to get ahold of your employees as soon as possible when things are urgent. Waiting for a non-desk employee to see their email when they’re unable to get an internet connection or don’t have an email-capable device can make it difficult to share essential information. With work-related text messages, employees will be notified almost immediately rather than waiting to check their email. It’s possible that non-desk employees don’t have company emails either. This makes texting even more accessible when understanding how to schedule a text message to your team so they receive them at the best times.

But what are the advantages and disadvantages of text messages in business? What about email? It’s often said that email is more professional, but text messaging doesn’t have to be an unprofessional form of employee communication. So what’s the real difference between email and text? We will explore the two and their different purposes within business operations.

Email and texting capabilities have transformed over the years, but companies should always pursuethe most effective and efficient way to communicate with employees. As a manager or HR employee, having access to workers in an instant is essential, especially when it’s urgent. Users can send and receive short messages by using a mobile device that supports text messaging, often known as SMS (short message service). On the other hand, sending messages and data through a computer network is called email (or electronic mail).

But what is the difference between text messages and email messages? To break it down, here’s what email vs. text looks like:

• Internet connection vs. cellular connection
• Long form vs. short form
• Email client vs. standard phone

In short, no. Many team members and managers would say that email is the most professional way to communicate in an office setting with customers and others in the company. Because texting is less common in office settings, typically people consider it to be less professional. One reason emails are typically a primary way of communicating is they leave a “paper trail” of communication. If any issues were to arise, emails help businesses keep track of any ongoing discussions or issues.

However, professionalism in the workplace depends on the environment where employees are working. “Professionalism” as a term is situational in these cases. While desk employees typically have a company email address, non-desk employees might not have email access and, therefore, texting is the most appropriate form of employee communication. Texting can be professional when it is used properly, like communicating any policy updates, weather concerns, or workplace hazards. It all depends on the company, the texting solution used, the employee’s position, and the situation in which managers and HR are communicating with their employees.

So while email might be the go-to communication for office employees, texting doesn’t have to be unprofessional. In fact, software solutions like Yourco make texting your employees important information simple. It keeps a paper trail of texts in the interface, so you always have access to previous conversations. You’ll also be able to keep track of any issues and address them accordingly.

Some industries that could benefit from texting more than email include:

• Construction
  
• Manufacturing
  
• Transportation
  
• Warehousing
  
• Agriculture
  

Because most individuals have their phones with them, texting is a quick and easy way to communicate. Texting is one of the best ways to communicate, because—to put it plainly—people read their texts. In fact, 98% of text messages are read within 15 minutes, according to onestudy. Additionally, a significant amount of texts are answered inas little as 90 secondsonce they are received! Therefore, when you send a text message the likelihood that your message will be read and responded to is very high. Texting is especially useful when there is no time to waste or when an employee can’t be reached via email.

For businesses, texting can keep employees informed when they’re away from a desk or in the field. Not only are they likely to read texts quickly, but they can access them from almost anywhere—even without an internet connection. Appointment scheduling, emergency alerts, and reminders may all be managed by texting, which gives businesses an advantage in their communication with employees. Because of how simple and fast texting can be, it is an ideal way to contact employees while they’re working.

For example, if an employee is working at a construction site, texting them about potentially hazardous weather conditions helps keep them aware of the situation, so they can take precautions and stay safe. Or, if the warehouse has a hazardous chemical spill, a text message can let your employees know to stay away from the area until it is safe. In these cases, texting is ideal for communicating with employees.

The advantages of text messaging in employee communication far outweigh the disadvantages, but let’s explore the reasons why:

Advantages of texting include:

• Near instant communication
• Higher visibility and open rate
• Big reach with group/mass texting
• Can be scheduled or automated
• Every cellphone has texting capabilities
• Cost-effective
• Only contact who is necessary
• Reliable

• Viewed as unprofessional in some instances
• Needs to be brief and conversational
• Group texts can be overwhelming

Despite the notion that texting is unprofessional in an office setting, it can actually be a great tool for managers and HR to communicate with their non-desk team.

It could be argued that, because texting is more efficient, it’s better to contact employees for anything that needs to be addressed quickly. When employees are in the field, it is almost certainly the best option.

Using a solution like Yourco gives you the ability to contact employees in bulk or individually, without creating a massive group chat where important information gets lost. With texting capabilities all in one easy-to-use dashboard, businesses can reach their employees using software rather than an actual phone. This means it’s easier to keep track of conversations and reach employees more effectively.

If you’re wondering, “Why would someone send an email instead of calling or texting?,” it might not surprise you that email is still the primary method of employee communication, particularly in office settings. Emailing can be a helpful tool to reach your team with thorough instructions, changes, or other communication that is mainly used for office workers. Beyond using it as a means of standard communication, many people utilize email as a tool to send large file attachments, images, and links.

However, texting using software solutions like Yourco can send files and messages as well, which means easy access to information without needing a company email or a dedicated app. Using Yourco is especially helpful for non-desk employees without an internet connection while in the field, out in the warehouse, or on the plant floor. It’s possible to send links to files for employees to open later, so email doesn’t have to be a part of the equation.

For example, suppose there is a change in a policy that requires an attachment outlining the differences and new content. In that case, both texting or an email is appropriate to explain why changes are taking place, as well as sharing the document. But choosing texting as the primary means of professional communication means greater accessibility for all employees and not just those at a desk. Texting through Yourco means you have operational texting capabilities, as well as:

• Company Announcements
• Benefits Communication
• Employee Alerts
• Employee Surveys
• Onboarding Employees
• Employee Referrals
• Call-Off Line (Text-Off Line)

Similar Resources

• Internal Communications Best Practices
• Survey Distribution Platforms
• Non-Desk Employee Communication
• Employee Notification System
• Onboarding in Different Industries
• Texting vs. Email in the Workplace
• Employee Texting Platform
• Best Text Messaging Service for Business
• Employee Communication
• Onboarding Process Checklist
• Non-Desk Employee Onboarding

Additional Resources

• Internal Text Communication
• Workplace Translation Tools
• Employee Alerts
• Scheduling Texts to Employees
• Onboarding Employees
• Employee Survey Distribution
• Employee Communication: Reaching Your Non-Desk Employees